Company description

Frinklepod Farm is a small, family-run farm growing certified organic vegetables and flowers on 4 acres in Arundel, Maine, near the coastal communities of Biddeford and Kennebunkport.

We are passionate about providing our community nourishing food and on-farm experiences that celebrate and increase connections to the land and one another.  During our peak growing season, our farm members and other customers shop in the well-stocked farm store, pick their own flowers, enjoy soft-serve ice cream, listen to the happy sounds of our summer campers, and sign up to attend events such as plant-based cooking classes, farm dinners, and concerts.  

We started Farm to Table Kids Camp on the farm last year and it was a huge success!  Our "campus" is a private garden and forest space on one end of the farm, with access to indoor space in case of inclement weather.

Camp sessions are 4 days long - Tuesday - Friday, 9-3 for campers aged 5-10, and include activities around gardening, cooking, wildcrafting and art, and movement, as well as free play time. Each week also features its own unique theme (e.g. "Bug Week," and "Herbs, Flowers, Potions & Magic") which helps guide some of our daily activities. Each theme has a lot of “wiggle room” for kids who may not think they are interested in that particular topic to be able to go in their own creative direction!

Typical Daily Schedule 
8:50-9:15 am Drop-Off
9:15am Morning circle: team building, plan the day 
9:30-10:30am Choice Time Activities
10:30am Snack & free play
11:00-12:30 pm Choice Time Activities
12:30 Lunch & free play
1:30 - 2:45 pm Choice Time Activities
3:00 pm Pickup

Job description

We are looking for one Lead Counselor and one Counselor to join Flora, our Camp Director and Farm Co-Owner, this summer.  The season starts July 2 with a few days of staff orientation and ends on August 29, the last day of camp.

Our staff of 3 works together to provide a fun and safe experience for about 16 kids (ages 5-10) at a time.  We also supervise 2-3 counselors-in-training (CITs) who are 12-13 years old and there to be helpful in small ways. We lead choice-time activities in smaller sized groups and there are times when all of the kids are together, e.g. for lunch and free play.  

Camp runs as weekly sessions, Tuesday - Friday 9-3 for the campers.  Counselors work from 8:30-3:30, Tuesday - Friday (28-30 hours/week), for the months of July and August.

Both the Counselor and Lead Counselor plan and lead activities throughout the camp day, including gardening and food projects, art projects, group games and nature exploration.  Counselors help facilitate self-directed learning during free play and support social-emotional development throughout the day.  Counselors are also expected to share in the daily set-up and breakdown of supplies for each day’s activities, and to keep the campus safe and organized. 

The Lead Counselor has the added responsibilities of communicating with parents as needed at drop-off and pick-up, keeping medical and emergency records organized and accessible, and to take the lead in resolving any challenges or conflicts that may arise.

What we are looking for:

• A love of children and nature.
• Child care and/or child education experience required
• Gardening experience and/or a love of food preferred (but not required)
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Tolerance for inclement weather conditions and being outdoors all days
• Reliable transportation to and from camp as we are located in a rural area with limited access to the camp
• Candidate must be at least 16 years of age at date of employment

Pay scale:

Lead Counselor: $18-22 depending on experience

Counselor: $15-18 depending on experience

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $15.00 - $22.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline